A GRAND RACE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6678, 28 November 1908, Page 14

A GRAND RACE

THE ENGLISH SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP. THE OLD COUNTRY SCORES. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, October 16. Tho old adage "youth will bo served" received further exemplification in tho championship soulling race last Monday between the Australian George Towns and tho Londoner Ernest Barry. Towns is in his fortieth year, whilst Barry is only twenty-six, and in addition to the heavy handicap of years Towns was conceding all the physical advantage of height, weight, and reach to his young opponent. He was beaten, but only by a couple of lengths in marvellously fast time, after a splendid exhibition of oarsmanship and pluck. . Barry’s victory has, I fancy, no parallel in tho history of professional sculling. Brought almost straight from tho noivco class into first-class racing, and opposed to a man who had won the World’s Championship four times and 1 tho English Championship twice, Barry was sot a stiff task. Ho came through the ordeal triumphantly, soulling in splendid form and with superb judgment. His performance will stand out as remarkable, for his time, 21min 12 2-usee, has never boon approached in any race over tho Thames championship course. Tho previous best was 21m in 44sec., by George Bubear on April 23, 1840, when ho defeated Bill Barry. This record was beaten by no less than 31 3-sseo. In the English Championship, Tom Sullivan’s 22min SOsec in 1803 had been the best, whilst Stanbury’s 2lmin Sisco in 1896 is the fastest World’s Championship time on the Thames, generally unreliable, but even allowing for that and the fact that Monday’s flood was very strong and the wind a fair one all the way, except' for three hundred yards above Hammersmith bridge, the performance stands out as a brilliant one. However much he was favoured by conditions Barry’s time proved him a very speedy sculler. Towns may have deteriorated since lie last appeared in the' Old Country eight, years ago, but certainly not to any appreciable extent. This was proved by the manner in which ho went from start to t finsh‘,. and tho fact that he was within two lengths of the winner of the fastest race over seen over tho Thames course.

Towns had every faith in his ability to stay the course and set a fast pace from the start, which was by mutual consent. In the first minute ho took 35 strokes and sculling in splendid form soon gained a length’s advantage. This ho increased by a some two or three yards by the time ho shot past the mile post in 4min 44soc. Meanwhile, Barry, who was sculling steadily and strongly at 28 or 29 per minute seemed in no way disturbed by being thus early in the rear, and when Towns tried to sheer over into his water on the Surrey side, Barry put a little extra, back into his work and drew up so quickly that Towns had to give way, and go hack to his own water. At Hawods the Australian could only claim a bare half length's advantage, and was rowing a much faster stroke than his rival. At Hammersmith ,bridge, which Towns shot in Bmin 24sec., tho Australian seemed to waver and amid tremendous excitement Banry appeared to draw level. At this juncture however, some illregulated creatures in a steam launch managed to give Barry the benefit, of the craft’s wash, and for a few strokes the Englishman was “all abroad.” Towns also got washed but not to anything like the same extent, and ho took advantage of his opponent’s misfortune to regain his length and a quarter advantage. Ho did not however retain ,it long, for, favoured, by tho bend in the river Barry drey up very quickly, and as they raced up Chiswick Eyot the scullers wore practically on even terms. Towns, who had been plugging away as hard as ho could go from the start, now began to lose strength. He kept to his fast rate of striking and maintained his form wonderfully well, but the power behind his strokes was’ failing, and Barry, keeping to his long steady and strong 28 began to forge ahead. Passing Chiswick Church he was leading by perhaps a couple of yards, his time being 13mdn lOseo. Encouraged by his old friend Tom ouihvan Towns tried a spurt, but Bany held him without quickening up. Again the Australian tried to pull his man back but Barry steadily drew away and shot Barnes Bridge two lengths ahead in 17min 67500. Once more Towns spurted and this time drew up a little, until in response Barry quickened up a trifle and then the Englishman drew further ahead. Eculling very fast for a few strokes Barry soon held a three length’s lead, but towns made one last effort and got to within a couple of lengths ©re Marry passed .the post. It was a grand race from start to finish, and in spite of tho fast pace neither men seemed really “all out,” though, of course, very tired. Of tiio two Barry seemed the fresher, but, of course, ho was tho victor—that makes a difference.

The Englishman’s victory was, of course, extremely popular, and cortainly the Old Country has not won sculling honours out of her turn. The limt Englishman to score in a championship event was when “Bill" Barry eider brother of Ernest Barry, luckily beat Towns in the final of a sweepstake in which Jim Wray was the third competitor. This was in September, 1893, and Towns’ .defeat then was entirely due to an accident, a lump of drift wood injuring his boat so badly that it became waterlogged. After Monday’s race Barry having shaken hands with Towns, went on board the steamer Viscount to receive the congratulations of his backers and friends. Among them was Mr Spencer Gollan, the backer of Towns. In course of conversation Barry remarked that, although the race had been a hard one he felt fresh and well. “Directly f shook hands just before the start with George,” ho remarked, “I had a conviction that I should wdn. I was always sure of putting up a good struggle, and I am not speaking in a boastful .spirit.” ■Mr Gollan: “Well, the next best thing for you to do is to come over to New Zealand and row’ Webb; it would bo a good match.” “I’ll bo pleased to row Webb,” replied Barry, “but I’m not going to leave my wife and child, and I can’t afford to take them so great a distance. If Webb’ will come to England

I’ll row him.” Barry landed at the Star and Garter, whore the crowd was very dense; in fact, people waded into tho water to shako tho winner by tho hand.

The Englishman's victors- may revive tho sport in this country, and this, in more senses than one, is most welcome. Before the race was started it wen said that if Barry won ho would not want for backers to match him against tho world’s champion. Who that will be it is difficult to say, for tho present holder of the World’s Championship, William Webb, is to meet R. Arnst for the title on the Wanganui .river on December 15th. Barry on Monday proved himself a fine soullor, and his supporters, no doubt, will be out with a challenge ore many days have passed. The match itself was conducted on sporting lines, for apart from tho desire of both parties to win, everybody was friendly, and none more so than the two scullers, who, much to the surprise of some people, wore one evening walking together on Barnes Coni' mou.

As, however, both men have boon very careful to keep themselves aloof from what is known as the “wide” school, the incident did not cause any unpleasant comment, and, indeed, I do not remember a professional sculling match which produced less of tho usual loose talk about “Mr Arrangement” than this one.